Life
11 Gifts That Give Back (And Make Gift-Giving Feel EXTRA Good)
Giving gifts is one of the most magical feelings associated with the holidays. It's a wonderful feeling to know that you're giving someone who is special to you a gift that is special to them. The cute Pinterest-inspired wrapping, the thoughtfully chosen presents for each specific friend and family member, the bows and ribbons and sparkly things—it's all lovely. And gifts that give back? That's even better.
If you're looking for a way to make gift-giving feel extra amazing (and give back even more), there's definitely a way to do so; it just takes a little research. Don't worry, I went ahead and did that boring part for you — so if you're looking for gifts that benefit charities, organizations, or mankind in general (as well as your friend who is receiving the gift), here's the list for you. Read on to see 11 different gifts that give back in their own special way.
For The Student or Stationery Lover
According to KITE’s website, the design for these pencils was inspired by 15-year-old Kelvin Osoro, a dedicated and talented art student who participates in art classes at the non-profit organization, Uweza in Kibera, Kenya. Each pencil pack comes packaged in a kraft box with your very own KITE tag. For every KITE for UWEZA pencil pack purchased, KITE provides pencil packs to a child in need.
KITE for UWEZA Pencil Pack, $10, kiteproducts.com
For The Jewelry Collector
Perfect for your friend who is always looking for new jewelry, this Chan Luu wrap bracelet is handmade and totally unique, and it’s part of a line by Luu called “Ethical Fashion International.” Luu collaborates with hundreds of artisans in Haiti and Kenya. “Ethical Fashion International is part of an ongoing effort by Chan to develop sustainable industries in underdeveloped areas. Currently employing over 782 workers, the line gives artisans the opportunity to work and build a better life,” Luu’s website reads. For every piece sold from the collection, Luu will give a pair of reading glasses to an artisan in need. Read more at the Reading Glass Project.
Three Wrap Bracelet by Chan Luu, $50, darartisans.com
For The Book-Obsessed
Out of Print partners with organization Books for Africa. For every product sold from Out of Print, one book is donated to a community in Africa.
Virginia Woolf Literary Tote, $18, outofprintclothing.com
For The Tech-Minded Friend
The 1:Face Charity watch comes in a variety of colors — and each color represents a different cause. When you buy a specific watch, the proceeds will go toward a specific charity. There are nine different causes including cancer, hunger, breast cancer, clean water, disaster relief, environment, AIDS, education, and animal rights.
1:Face Charity Watch, $99, 1face.com
For The Pet Lover
When you purchase a pillow cover, $5 of the purchase price of each cover sold will be donated to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
ASPCA Pet Pals Pillow Cover, $16.99, pbteen.com
For The Outdoorsy Person
This key fob is created from six feet of paracord, a material built to potentially save you in survival situations (Bear Grylls can probably explain it to you). Every time you purchase a Survival Straps product from the Wounded Warrior Project collection, Survival Straps will donate one to WWP through 12/31/2015.
Wounded Warrior Project Key Fob, $19.95, survivalstraps.com
For The Jeans And T-Shirt Gal (Or Guy)
This T-shirt is simple and cute, but also spreads awareness about hunger as well as providing weekend meals for one child.
Unisex Heather Grey T-Shirt, $20, thatscaring.com
For Your Fancy Friend
One half of profits from the sale of this bottle of wine go toward ending child hunger. The company behind the wine, OneHope, has a variety of wines that each benefit a different cause. This red wine goes toward supporting efforts for cleaner water, for example.
California Brut Sparkling Wine, $18.99, onehopewine.com
For The Friend Who Lives In Cold Weather
This scarf from Greenheart Shop was crafted by women in the Bolivian Andes from locally-sourced alpaca yarn. According to its site, Greenola Style’s products are knit by hand or handcrafted on a manually threaded and operated weaving machine. Greenheart works with cooperatives and donates 10 percent of profits to non-profit Solidarity Bridge.
Lilith Alpaca Wool Infinity Scarf, $74.95, greenheartshop.org
For The Beauty Freak
Lush charity pots are full of delicious lotion, and the money spent on the pots goes straight to a variety of different grass root charities around the world.
Charity Pot Body Lotion, $6.95 to $25.95, lush.com
For The Jewelry Collector 2
Greenola Style offers a variety of beautiful, unique necklaces (and other jewelry, of course) all made with a specific mission in mind. According to its website, Greenola provides advancement opportunities to artisans in marginalized regions of the world. Read more about their mission here
Dorado Necklace, $62.23, greenolastyle.com.
